Characterization of arbuscular mycorrhizae in three dry plant formations of Punta Guanos, Matanzas, Cuba

Abstract

The study of mycorrhizal diversity is important for the maintenance and recovery of affected areas and of mainly endemic plant species. Three ecosystems of Punta Guanos (Matanzas, Cuba) were studied: rocky vegetation complex, coastal and subcoastal xeromorphic scrubland, and microphyllous evergreen forest. A total of 44 species and morphospecies of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were obtained, distributed in the three plant formations studied, with the genus Glomus predominating, observed in multiple studies of various ecosystems in Cuba. The highest species richness of AMF was obtained in the microphyllous evergreen forest with 28 and the highest spore density (or total amount per 100 g) per plant formation was found in xeromorphic scrubland with 4389.67, followed by the evergreen forest with 3036.66 and the rocky vegetation complex with 2996.67. In the plant formation of microphyllous evergreen forest, the species Glomus nanolumen was isolated and identified for the first time in our country, which is a new report for Cuba.